President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa who arrived yesterday on a two-day state visit to Singapore on the invitation of Singapore President Dr. Tony Tan Keng Yam, being accorded a warm welcome at the Changi
International Airport by Senior Minister of Trade, Industries and Home Affairs of Singapore S. Iswaran. Singapore High
Commissioner in Sri Lanka Chang Chai Chung and High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Singapore Ferial Ashraff were
also present on the occasion. Picture Chandana Perera

Subsidy bonanza for fishermen

Government yesterday announced unprecedented relief measures to the fishing community who would be affected by the fuel price hike. Accordingly a fuel subsidy of Rs. 30,000 will be provided to every multi-day fishing trawler while a one day fishing boat will receive a fuel subsidy of Rs. 18,000 per month. Addressing the media following a crucial meeting with representatives of district fisheries organizations Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said this subsidy will also to be extended to the boats with kerosene-driven engines.

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Commonwealth unity vital to face int’l crisis situations - PM

“It is pertinent for Commonwealth countries to act in unison in facing international crisis situations. ‘A united stand will enable them to resolve problems amicably in a transparent manner,” Prime Minister D M Jayaratne said when he met a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) delegation led by its Executive Committee President Sir Alan Gordon Haselhurst who called on him at the Prime Minister’s office yesterday morning. The delegation is in Sri Lanka for a preliminary round of talks in preparation for the CPA 58th sessions to be held in Sri Lanka in September.

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Disagreeable conduct - Dinesh

It is disagreeable to see the US trying to force the Sri Lankan government to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission report, when the government has already taken the necessary steps to do exactly that step by step, Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardana said.

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Record turnover by SLCTB on Monday

The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLCTB) had made a record turnover of Rs 80 million on Monday, SLTB chairman Shashi Welgama told the Daily News yesterday. This amount is nearly double the usual turnover. He observed that the usual daily turnover of the SLCTB is Rs 45 million. He said that the private bus strike was the main reason for the record turnover. He noted that the SLCTB full fleet amounting to about 5,000 buses was put into operation on Monday to minimize the inconvenience caused to the public due to the strike.

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